Phonograph



April 5, 1927-. J, sEABOLT PHONQGRAPH 7 Filed Aug. 27- 1920 3 Sheets-Sheetl April- 1927" F. J. SEABOLT PHQNOGRAPH Filed Aug. 27'. 1920 s SheQts-Shetz ,oJ w

April 5, 1927.

F. J. SEABOLT PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 27. 1920 3 Sheets-She et 8 Fl IZ //5 49 H .H ml /0 Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF cE.

FRANKJ'. SEABOLT, OF SCHENEOTiADY, NEW YO RI'LASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE.

PHONOGRAPH.

' Applicationfiled/ August 27, 1920. Serial No. 406,304.

My invention relates to the control ofphO- nographs and the like and provides means whereby adevice of this character may be caused to-play di'fi'erentrecords which are At the same time that the tone arm is beameter of the v varied.

ing returned, the spring motor of the machine is rewound so that any number of records within the 0 may be successively played. In the arrangement which I have described in said application, however, the individual records of the group or stack which are placedin the magazine to be successively played must be all of the'same diameter, although the" digroup as a whole may be i In carrying out" my present invention I provide means whereby the records of the group which are put in the magazine may be of dilferent sizes. At present there are two standard diameters or sizes of records; namely, the 10 inch and the 12 inch records. By my arrangement the operator may place a number of records of. bothsizes ,in the.

1 magazine and place one of the records of either size in playing position. Then by merely starting the machine, i. e., by putting the needle on the record and operating the starting lever, the records will be successively played until the last one is played whereupon the machine will be stopped.

My invention will be more clearly understood from the following specifigationin which I have shown my invention embodied in concrete form for tion: y

In theaccompanying drawing illustrating my invention in concrete form. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the arrangepurposes of illustramentof parts; Fig. 2 shows the details of acity of the magazine the arrangement for securing the limit switch operating member to the tone'arm; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same but showing the circuit connect-ions and more of the operating parts 1 Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the switchelements of the limit switch; Fig. 5 is a detailof a stop for the-limit switch; Fig; 6 shows a modification in which the limit switch. is operated magnetically;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an automatic ma-'- chine embodying my invention; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same; Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the record shifting finger; Figs.

11 to 14 inclusive show details of the feeding magazine; Figs. 15 and 16 show details 'of the receiving magazine; Fig 17 shows a diagram of the circuit connections for the record shifting motor and for automatically stopping the machine.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will beseenthat the general arrangement is similar'to that disclosed in my application above referred to. A spring motor for the phonograph is represented. at 10 as driving the rotatable table 11 through worm gearing 12 in the usual manner. The electric motor for winding the spring motor is shown at 13, the winding being done through worm 14 -on the motor shaft and worm wheel 15 on the sprin arbor 16. The contacts for controlling the motor circuit are represented at 17 and 18 respectively, contact 17 being driven by the spring motor through. worm 19, gears 19', 20, 21 and 22 and sleeve; 23,"

while contact 18 is driven by the electric motor from worm 24 secured to arbor 16 and Worm wheel 25 secured to shaft 26 which passes through the sleeve '23. These two con-' tacts 17 and 18 both have the same gear relation with their respective driving mem; bers, i. e., the gear relation between contact 17 and the. drum of the spring motor on which worm 19 is mounted is the same as the gear relation between contact 18 and the ar bor 16 upon which worm 24- is mounted. The result is that as the springdrummakes a certain number of turns in driving the table 11, the contact 17 willbe turned a cerbor 16 is given the same number of turns to restore the spring tension, thecontact'18will" be moved exactly the same portion of a revi tain portion of a revolution and if the ar i olution as contact 17 and in the same direction. Contact 17 is a metallic disk havin a brush 27 engaging its edge and provided with an eccentric rib 28 of insulating material, enclosing an insulating section 29 of the disk. The contact 18 comprises a similar metallic disk having a brush 30 engaging its edge and a spring finger 31 engaging the disk of the contact 17. This spring finger is arranged to be deflected by the rib 28 so as to snap from the insulating section 29 to the metallic surface and vice versa. This form of contacting device is fullydescribed in'my Patent No. 1,180,743 and other patents and, consequentl needs no more detailed description. T e-result of all this is that if there were no other control for the motor 13 than the sliding contacts-17'and 18, when the motor circuit was closed 'by the spring finger 31 snapping over on to the metallic portion of the disk which it engages, the spring would be wound up by just the amount which it had run down. If, however, the motor circuit should be opened at another point when the contact is made, the electric motor will not, of course, he energized but the contacts will continue in slidlng enga ement until the circuit is completed at the ot er point. In my present arrangement the motor circuit is controlled, by contacts 32 associated with the lever 32 for operating the brake lever 33. The circuit is only closed at the contacts 32 when the lever 32' is moved inward which applies the brake to stop the machine, so that if the 5 ring motor had run down far enough to c use the contacts 17, 18, when the lever 32' 1s operated to stop the machine, the motor 13 will be energized andwvind the spring to its original tension at which point the motor circuit will be opened at the contacts 17 18. This rewlndmg arrangement is covered bymy previous Patent No. 1,440,634. In other words, referring to Fig. 3 when the machine 1s stopped the motor M will be energlzed from the plus side of the line, through the motor and sliding contacts 17 and 18. and contacts'32 to the minus side of the line. The spring motor will then be fully rewound.

While the motor is winding the spring it is likewise turning the tone arm back to its orlgma position. This is accomplished by a gear 34 driven from the arbor 16 through bevel gears 35, shaft 36, bevel pinion 37, and bevel gear 38, The gear 34 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with gear sector 39. To this end gear 38, which drives gear 34 is adapted to rotate slightly aboutpinio'n 37 so that gear 34 will be rotated into and out of engagement with the sector 39, As shown, the bearing 40 for gear 38'i s rotatably mounted on shaft 36. A projection .41 from the end of the bearing 40 is employed to throw the gear 34 into mesh with sector 39 scribed.

In order to lift the needle when the motor is energized and before the turning movement of the tone armis begun, I provide the following arrangement:

Driven by the arbor 16 is a disk 42 provided with two pivoted pawls 43 back of which are driving pins 44. Each of these pawls isso mounted that when it reaches a substantially vertical position above the center of thedisk it will drop over away from its driving pin if there is nothing to prevent it. If, however, the pivoted lever 45 should be in the position shown in the drawing it will be engagedby the pawl and turned on its pivot. This lever 45 is conin a manner hereinafter denected by link 46 with a lever 47 connected 9 with shaft 48 by a crank arm 49. The connection between the crank 49 and the lever 47 is a pin and slot connection 50. T he lever 47 is L shaped, one arm of which is provided with an armature 51 for magnet 52. The pivotal connection-of the lever 47 is at 53, this connection 53 being made to one arm of a second L shaped lever 54 pivotedat 55 and provided with an armature 56 also cooperating with the magnct 52. The lever 54 is normally held in the positionin which its armature engages the magnet 52 by a spring 57. The spring is a light one, however, and does not prevent the displacement of the lever 54 when the magnet 52 is deenergized. It will be noted from the arrangement described that if the magnet 52 is energized, the lever 54 will be held in the position shown in the drawing and the pivotal point 53 will become a fixed pivot for the lever 47. If, therefore, while the magnet 52 is energized the disk 42 should be operated to turn the lever 45 on its pivot and force the link 46 to the right, the pivotal point 53 of the lever 47 will be held stationary and shaft 48 will be rotated by the pin and slot connection 50 between the lever 47 and the crank 49. \Vhen this turning movement is completed, the armature 51 will engage the magnet 52 and be held in this position. Upon the deenergization of the magnet the armature 51 will return to the position shown in the drawing thereby allowing the shaft 48 t return to its original position. If, on the other hand, when the disk 42 is rotated and the link 46 forced to the right, the magnet 52 is not energized, then the link 47 will turn'on'thc pivotal connection 50 since there is a load on the shaft 48 and the pivotal polnt \\'lll be moved inward and the armature 5.6 moved away from the magnet 52.

In'this case, of course, the shaft-48 will not.

be rotated. After the 'pawl 43 disengages with the lever 45 the parts will return to the position shown inthe drawin by reason of the pressure of the spring 5 It will be understood, of course, that one pawl 43 will with gear sector 39. Member 59 is secured I to shaft'48 while member 58 is pivoted to part 59 and has secured to it'the end of a band or wire 60 which lifts the needle. The particular arrangement of these two pans forms no part of my present invention but is above referred to.

described in detail in my earlier application Suffice it to say, therefore, that if there is a strain on the band which lifts the needle showing that the needle lifted, then the turning of shaft48 will caiise the projection 41 to be turned thereby throwing the gears 34 and 39 into engagement. If, however, there should be no pull on the band 60 due, for instance, to a breakage of the band or its connections, the member 58 will simply turn on its pivot and the rojection 41 will not bemoved. The resu t will be that if-the lifting band or its connection is broken so as not to lift the needle, the-tone arm will not be turned notwithstanding the fact that the motor winds the spring and the shaft 48 is turned and held in turned position. Furthei'n'ioi'e, the needle must be lifted before the projection 41 will be moved to throw gears Stand 39 into mesh. In order to slightly retard the dropping of the needle I.provide the dash pot 61.

Turning now tothemeans for limiting the return movement of the tone arm, it will be seen] that I have provided a limit switch whichI shall designate as a whole as L. In my previous application first above re- 7 ferred to, this limit switch consisted of a single switch element. but in carrying out my present invention I employ three switch levers 62, 63 and 6-l each cooperating with its own switch contact as shown. These three switch members are operated by an operating member 65 having a pinaiid slot connection with each of the switch members. This operating member has a projection 66 which is engage d by a fixed lug 67 on the tone arm to move the switch members to closed posit-ion and is also engaged by the adjustable lug 68 whiel-i iswsecured to the tone arm when the machine is started as hereinafter described to open the switch members successively; This succe. sive openit will be seen is accomplished by hav mg theslot-s in the operating member 65.. of difiercnt lengths as will be well under-j stood. In order to, throw the tone arm to 'a' position such' that the fixed lug 67 will close the switch L, I provide the records. with a spiral groove 67 '1 This groove starts with the end of the main groove and extends to a point at a fixed distance from the center of the record which is represented by the circle 68'. In other words, when the needle is moved to the circular groove 68, the tone arm, during such movement, closes the switch L through fixed.

In orderto secure the member 68 to the tone arm I provide the arrangement shown in vdetail in Figs. 2 and 3. The lug 68 is secured-t0 a ring 69 which loosely surrounds the tone arm and is adapted to be clutched 'tothe tone arm by the operation of the. lever 32' which acts as the starting lever ofthe machine. In the arrangement shown I employ a spring bail 71 which surrounds the tone arm and is located in a groove 72 on the tone arm. The ends of this bail are connected with the lever 32' which .is pivoted at 74 to lugs 73 on the ring-69. The arrangement is such that as the lever 32' is thrown back to the position sliownin Fig. 2 the spring bail 71 and the ring 69 to which is attached lug 68 are drawn together by a toggle action. Vhen the connection point of the bail to the lever passes below is stopped by a lug 70, the ring 69 carrying .the lug 68, the bail '71, and the lever 32' are all clutched to the tone arm. As shown, the lever 32" projects upward through the cover board 75. The cover board is slotted at 7 6 to permit the lever 32' to travel with the tone arm but prevent the lever 32' from being operated to release the parts from the tone arm and stop the machine until the tone arm is brought bad; to its initial position. A slot 76' radial to slot 76 permits the lever 3:3 to be moved inward at the starting position. The connection between the operating lever 32 and the brake lever 33 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. A projection 77 on the lever 32' enters a yoke 78 on the brake lever when the lever 32' is n its inithe tone arm upon the starting of the machine and for operating the brake lever in its initial position is all described and claimed in my pending application first above referred to vand needs no further detailed description.

Associated with the tone arm and operated by a fixed lug 79 thereon is a switch which I -shall designate as a whole as R.

.This switch is -a' double-pole switch which" normally assumes theposition .shown in 'd'otted lines due to the pressure of the spring 80 upon the operating arm 8lof"the-switch. The switch may be moved, however, to the hill line position shown in the drawing by the lug 7.9 on the tone arm. The location of this lug on the tone arm 'is such that when the tone arm is moved to the position in which the needle is in the starting position of a small or 10 inch record, the lug 79 will not engage the switch operating lever 81, and hence the switch R will 'be in the dotted position. If, however, a 12 inch record is put on the machine and the needle placed in the starting position thereof, the position of the tone arm will be such that the lug 79 will engage the operating member 81 of the switch R and move it against the spring 80 so that the switch blades will take the position shown in full lines. In this position, if the machine is now started, a latch 82 connected by a link 83 with an extension 84 of the brake lever, will latch the switch when the machine is started by the releasing of the brake, as will be clearly understood from Fig. 3. When the machine is stopped, however, the latch 82 will be operated to release the switch R and allow it to return to the dotted line position.

A stop pin 7 9' (Fig. 5) prevents the accidental closin of switch L when the machine is stopped which might happen if the, tone arm should be moved in toward the center of the record. When the switch L is fully open the pin 7 9'is projected upward by' red 80' as shown in" Fig. 5 to prevent moving of the switch operating member in a closing direction. When the machine is started,

' however, the rod 80" which is wedge shaped at its end is 'w-ithdrawn, (see Fig. 3) allowing the spring 81 to return the pin from stopping position.

In'Fig. 6 I have shown the limit switch L electromagnetieallyoperated. This is accomplished by an electromagnet 83 which is energized at contacts 84' by lug 67. The circuit of the magnet 83 is throughsliding contacts 17- and 18 and is immediately deenergized when the lug 67 moves back but' the switch will remain closed, the core moving-horizontally. The switch will be opened by lug 68. There will be no danger of accidental closingofthis switch when the machine is at rest since the circuit will be opened at contacts 17 and 18.

In Fi 4 one of the switch members of limit swltch L is shown in detail as being a snap switch composed 'of a switch blade 85' pivoted at 85 and connected with the actuating member 86' also pivoted at '85 by a double actuating spring 87'. The member 86 has the operating pin 88' which moves in the slot in member .65. When member 86' is moved on itspivot by pin 88' moving to the right, the Switchblade 85 is placed under- .spring tension of sprin 87' tending to move the outer end toward tie left-but movement of the blade is prevented by the ri 'ht hand pivoted latch 89 which engagest 1e inner end of blade 85. When the pin 88 ismoved far enough, however, projection 90 in member 86 trips the latch which is holding and '1 allows the switch blade to move with a snap action in response to the spring tension. The two latches are connected by spring 91 as shown. This is a common form of snap switch and requires no further description.

In Figs. 7 to 17 I have shown an arrangeare automatically fed to the-phonograph table and then automatically transferred to the other side of the table. While the tone arm is being returned, with the needle lifted, to its initial position, the record is shifted to the right and another record is moved from the left onto the table to take its ,place. When the needle drops, therefore, a new record shall have taken the place of the one which hasjust been played. To this end, all .the records of a certain diameter should have the thread begin substantially the same distance from the edge of the record. Instead-of this, a spiral thread of steep pitch such as is employed at the middle of the record in Fig. 1 might be employed which would start at the proper distance from the edge and end at the beginning of the regular record thread.

I prefer, however, to have the regular thread begin at the proper distance from the edge of the record since this can easily be done in making a record.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that a stack of records is placed in a magazine at'85.- This magazine will holddrawn anothertakes its place, in a manner hereinafter described. At 87 is another magazine for receiving records after they have been played. In other words, the stack of records is transferred-from to 87. For

accomplishing this purpose I employ, in the particular arrangement shown, an, arm 88 having a pin 89 at-fits outer end which registers with the center hole in the record. This arm is moved by an electric motor (Fig. 17) which isenergized at contacts 190' (see Fig. 1) when "the needle is lifted. The stopping of the motor, however, is controlled by the motor itself after it has made a-predetermined number of revolutions. When the motor starts, therefore, it always makes a predetermined number of revolutions beore-stopping. and in doing'so causes the arm" 88 to "go through its complete cycle.

to the leftdeaVing therecord behind in the 1 magazine. The arm now moves over to the center of the records in the magazine 85- and the pin 89 drops into the center hole in the top record. The, arm now moves back to the right, carrying with it the top record, the other records below it being held by the centering pin 86, and finally stops at the playing position v on the table. All this takes place While the tone arm is being re turned with the needle lifted and the spring motor is being wound. The arrangement of the pin 89 in the end of the arm is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The pinis hinged at 189 so'that it will glide over the record when the arm is moved to the left, but when the arm is'moved to the right it assumes a vertical position. This pin may have a surface which bears on the record of some material which will not scratch the record, although this may not be neces ry since the pressure of the pin on the record will be very light.

I In order to bring about the sequence of operations of the arm 88 above described, I employ a mutilated annular gear 91" which is driven slowly by the motor 90. The reduction, gearing between the motor and this annular gear is suchthat the motor in making its predetermined number of revolutions turns the annular gear through one complete turn. The pinion 91, which drives the arm 88, is engaged on one side by the teeth of the annular gear at 92 to'turn the arm in one direction (to the right) and on its opposite side by teeth 93 to turn the arm in the other direction (to the left). The number of teeth at 92 are sufficient to carry the arm from the center over to the magazine at the right while the teeth at 93 will carry the arm from that point over to the center of the records in the magazine 85. The teeth at 94 will then carry the arm from that point back to the playing position thus completing the cycle.

Turning now to the details of the magazines, the magazine 85 is shown in Figures j 11 to 14. It comprises a casing 95 in the .top of the cabinet 96 having its top flush with the top of the phonograph table at 97. WVithin this casing is a platform 98 upon which the records to be played are stacked. The centering pin 86 passes through this platform,-and also-through the center holes in the successive records. This pin is verlically movable a slight distance because it should be high enough to center the last record when the magazine is filled but must be out of the way when the top record is drawn ofl". A sliding frame consistin of three rods 99, 100, 101, mounted on a ase 102, is arranged to be moved upward from itslowermost position shown in Fig. 11 to its uppermot position shown in Fig. 12 where it is held by the spring pressed balls 103. Secured to the platform .98 is a U- shaped member 104 which passes freely through the base 102. When the frame is raised, therefore, the base engages the platform and lifts it to the position shown in Fig. '12. Between the bottom of the. U- shaped piece 104' and the bottom of the casmg is a spring 105 which forces thestack of records upward when one has been removed. Hinged to the top of rod 99 is a cover plate 106 which may beswung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14. This cover is held down by a rod 107 having a loop 108 in its middle portion and having its ends bent into the, form of cranks 109 adapted to engage with hooks 110 onthe tops of rods 100 and 101. It will be obvious that by'turning the rod 107 from thevposition shown in Figs. 11 and 13 until the loop 108 is vertical, as shown in Fig. 14, the cranked ends will pass from under the hooks and assume a horizontal position against the cover. In this position the cranks will clear the hooks when the cover is turned on its hinge. Secured to the under, side of the base 102 is a bracket 111 which supports the pin 86 through a spring 112, the rod being provided with a collar 113 upon which the spring bears. When the frame is up as, shown in Figs. 12 and 14 the pin extends upward to the cover plate 106, but when the frame is pushed down, as shown in Fig. 11, a pivoted lever 114 on the under side of the base 102 engages a Stationary l'ug 115 on the'casing forcing the inner endof the lever, which normally engages the collar 113, as shown in Fig. 14, downward, so as to move the pin downward against the tension of the spring 112. The downward movement of the pin is just aboutequal to 'the thickness of a record so that the top record may he slid off without being interfered with by the pin. The frame is held down by two'hooks 116 pivoted to rods 100 and. 101 and engaging projections 117 on the casing. These hooks have finger grips and are'hung so as to automatically engage their projections when the frame is pushed down. To lift the framethe' finger grips on theframe are taken hold of and by pulling upward the hooks are disengaged from the projections and the frame may be lifted up and latched by the balls.

To load the magazine, therefore, the frame is raised to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 14, and the cover plate is swung to the vertical position. The records of both sizes, if desired, are now stacked onto the platform the center pin passing through the holes in the records. As many records as desired, u to the capacity of the magazine may be put in. In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown, for purposes of illustration, the magazine only partially filled. The cover is now clamped down and the frame pushed downward overcoming the locking balls 103. As the frame moves downward, the platform, which is spring pressed upward, does not move until the cover plate reaches the records. From then on, the records and platform also move compressing the spring 105. Of course, if the magazine had been filled, the records would have moved at once. When the frame reaches the bottom, it is latched as shown in Fig. 11, the centering pin 86 being in the meantime moved downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 as above described. It w1ll be obvious now that if the top record is drawn out, the platform will be moved upward by the spring so that the next record will be 1n the place of the one removed. When the last record is removed, the contacts 118 Wlll be bridged by contact 119 to stop the machine as hereinafter described.

The magazine 87 is shown in Flgs. 15 and 16. It consists of a platform 120 spring pressed upward by a spring 121. When there are no records in the magazine the platform 120 is flush with the rotating table. When a record is moved onto the platform it passes under a guide 122 pivoted at 123. The ends of this guide are turned upward as shown so as to start the record under the guide and the spring 121 then yields to force the record downward so that its upper surface is at the level of the table or below. Each end of the guide is divided into two fingers 124 and 125 which may yield somewhat. Fingers 125 are a little higher than fingers 124 and are for engaging a smaller,

record at its edge, whereas fingers 124 engage a larger record at its edge. When a large record enters the magazine, therefore, the fingers 124 engage it at its edge and press it downward, the fingers 125 not engaging the record, but when a smaller record enters, the fingers 125 engage it and force it down, the fingers 124 not engaging it. The guide 122 is held in place by a latch 126 having an operating handle 127. The latch and handle, as shown, are on a resilient support so that when the guide is forced downward the latch 126 will automatically lock it. To remove the records, the handle 127 is pulled to the right and the guide 122 lifted. When the magazine is filled with records to its limit, the contacts 128 are bridged by a contact 129 to stop the machine as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 17 I have shown a diagram of the circuit connections for the record shifting motor 90. This motor is energized when the reproducer reaches the end of the record, and the needle lifted. The needle can only be lifted when the end of a record is reached so as to close switch L by lug 67. In order to insure, however, that the shiftin motor is not operated until the needle is lifted, I have its circuit controlled by contacts 190 which are closed when the clutch gears 34 and 39 (Fig. 1) are thrown in mesh. I also provlde a push button switch 130 controlled by the operator. If this switch is closed the motor 90 will start, but if it is open the motor 90 will not start and the record will be repeated instead of a new record taking its place. In other words, by pushing the button R (Fig. 8) so as to open switch 130, the record will be repeated but by pushing button A to close switch 130 the record will be automatically shifted. When the motor starts it makes its own circuit at commutator 131 which short circuits the other controlling contacts. This commutator is geared to the motor so as to make one revolution while the motor is rotating sutliciently to give the arm a complete cycle. Slip ring 132 of this commutator is provided with an insulating section 133 so that when the brush runs on this insulating section the motor will stop. Since, however, when the motor 90 is to be stopped, the contacts 190 are still closedthe needle being still liftedI provide contacts 134 in series with contacts 190 so that both contacts 190 and 134 in addition to switch 130 must be closed in order that the motor 90 shall start. Contacts 134 will, therefore, be closed when the end of a record is reached, but will at once be opened when the tone arm starts to move back so that the commutator controls the stopping. The motor will, therefore, when once started continue to run until a cycle is completed. In order to stop the machine when the last record is removed or when the receiving magazine is filled, I provide a second brake operated by an electromagnet 135. This electromagnet is energized either when contacts 118 of magazine 85 are closed by contact 119 which happens when the last record s removed or when contacts 128 of receiving magazine 87 are bridged by contact 129 which happens when the magazine 87 is filled. When the electroinagnet 135 is energized, it throws on the brake 136 which is of the over-center spring type and at the same time opens its own circuit at contacts 137 so that the current will be cut off the magnet. Between the brake 136 and the main brake 33 is an interlocking rod 138 having a pin and slot connection with the brake lever 33 at 139. The arrangement is such that the brake 33 normally operates back and forth without being affected by brake 136, but if brake 136 is thrown on by its operating magnet, it will be thrown off by throwing the main brake 33 on. In other words, if the machine is stopped automatically by either of the magazine switches, to start the machine again the magazine switch which has closed should be opened either by puttinga record or records in the magazine 85 or-taking records out of magazine 87, as the case may be, and then throwing the main brake 33 to off position. The stopping of the machine will not, of course, prevent the shifting motor 90 from completing its cycle and bringing the arm 88 to its central or normal position.

At 140 (Fig. 7) is provided what I shall call a transit switch since it is operated during the transit of the record from the magazine. This switch after being closed is tripped open by a projection 141 on the arm 88. The switch is held in closed position to which it is moved b the edge of a large record engaging a roliier 142 to close the contacts 143 by a latch 144 which is spring pressed to latching position. The switch 140 isspring pressed so as. to normally assume the open position when released. As a large record is drawn from the magazine 85, therefore, it engages the roller 142 and moves switch 140 until contacts 143 are bridged and the latch 144 holds it in this position. When the arm returns to withdraw another record from the magazine, the projection 141 engages the end 145 of the latch and holds it inoperative, allowing the switch 140' to open if it should be closed. When the arm 88 starts back with a record, the latch is released in time to allow it to latch the switch closed, if it should be closed by a large record. If a small record is withdrawn from the magazine, the switch 140 is not operated but remains in its normal open position.-

As thus constructed and arranged the operation of my automatic phonograph is as follows. Assume that the magazine 85 has been supplied with records of both sizes, ten and twelve inch, and that a recordof either size say, for instance, a twelve inch record is placed in playing position on the table. The needle is now placed at the beginning of the record. Since a large record has been placed on the table to beplayed first, the switch R will be moved by the lug 79 to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 against the tension of the spring 80. The operating lever 32', being-in the stopping position, will be in the contact clips 32 which also act to hold the lever and parts movable therewith in position. When the lever 32' is in the stopping position, the lug 68 is in the position in which it has moved op- "erating' members so that it will operate the middle switch element 63' of the limit switch L Even though the lug 68 has been carried further than this position in the last operation before stoppin .so as to open thelast switch element 62, w en the machine is stopped it will be taken back to the stopping position of the middle switch element since this is the only position in which the lever 32' can be operated to stop the machine. If now the lever 32 is pulled outward to the position shown in Fig. 3 to start the ma chine, three things will happen;

1st. The brake lever 33 is operated to release the brake and allow the machineto start.

2d. The limit switch operating lug 68 is clamped to the tone arm and will, therefore, be in the position in which it will open the middle switch element of the limit switch upon its return. 7

3d. The switch R which has been moved 'to the full line position of Fig. 3 by the lug 79 is latched in that position and will remain there until thelever 32' is again operated to stop the machine.

A fourth thing might be mentioned, viz, that the pin 7 9 which has prevented the ae-' cidental displacement of switch L while the machine was stopped, is removed if in fact the switch L had been moved far enough so that it could be displaced and the pin has accordingly moved to the locking position.

We will now assume. that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3 and the brake being released the machine starts. As the needle moves in ard toward the center, the operating lever 32 and lug 68 which is now clamped to the tone arm move in a clockwise direction, the lever 32' moving in the slot 76 and the lug 68 moving away from its initial position.. The lug 79 which operated the switch R also moves away from the switch operating arm 81 but the switch R is now latched in the position shown'in Fig. 3. The needle now being moved inward, the fixed lug 67 on the tone arm approaches the limit switch L and when the end of the record is reached and the inner spiral 67 on the record quickly throws the tone arm over to its final position, the lug 67 will engage the projection 66 on switch L and close the switch, that is, all three switch elements it they should happen to be open, will be simultaneously closed. In the meantime while the record is being played and the spring motor running down, contacts 17 and 18' have come into metallic engagement and made the circuit at that point. When, therefore, the limit switch L is also closed the winding motor 13 and the magnet 52 will be energized from the plus side of the line through the electric motor 13, through the sliding contacts 174-18, magnet 52," through either one of both in parallel of the switch elements 63 and 64 depending upon the setting of the transit switch 140. Assuming that the last record which was withdrawn from the magazine was a small one,then the transit switch will be open and the circuit will be completed-through switch element 64 and the lower blade of switch' R to the side of the negative line.

The motor now being energized, it operates to wind the spring and since the magnet 52 is energized the shaft 48 will be turned as heretofore described to'lift the needle and throw gears 34 and 39 into mesh to return the tone arm. The tone arm now starts to return and the record shifting motor 90 which is energized at contacts 90' and 134 when the needle is lifted starts to operate. The record which has just been played is shifted to the right into magazine 87 (Fig. 7 )and the record shifting arm 88 moves back to the left to withdraw a record from the magazine 85. Just before the arm reaches the position in which it picks up the record, the projection 141 on the arm 88 trips the latch 144 and releases the transit ping being controlled entirely by switch L.

; established for the return of the tone arm to the same position from which it started since the first record was a large one and the record just withdrawn fromthemagazine is a large one. The transit switch being setbefore the tone arm reaches anyone of its finalpositions, the circuit will now be thr0ugh,switch elements .63 and 64 and both blades of switch R in parallel as above de- .scribed. As the tone arm now approaches the end, of its return movement, the lug 68 engages the projection 66 and first trips open switch element 64 but this does not stop the motor or affect the circuits since this oi ly opens oneor two parallel circuits. The tone-arm, therefore, continues itsret-urn movement until it opens switch element 63 which will be when. the tone arm reaches the position from which it'started. This is as it shouldbe since the second record is a large one, the same as the first. It will be understood, of course, that the contacts 17 and 18 do not open at this time, the stop- Assume, however, that the second record, i. e., the first one withdrawn from'the magazine, has been a small one; then the transit switch would be open and there would be only one circuit, viz.-, through the switch Ielement 64. In this case the circuit would be brokenwhen the first switch element 64 is opened. Since the distance travelled by the tone arm between the operation of switch element 63 and the operation of switch element 64 is the distance between the starting position on a small-record and the starting position on'a large one, this will stop the tone arm and lower the needle at the starting position of a small record. This operation will continue as the successive records are withdrawn from the magazine, the transit switch each time determining how far the tone arm shall be returned so as to coincide with the starting position of the record which is withdrawn from the magazine.

Assume now that'instead of starting with a large record, the first record placed on the table to be played had been a small one. The switch B would now be in the dotted line positionand the two switch elements (52 and 63 become the operative ones; 63 for the small records and 62 for the large ones; the spacing between the operating positions of switch elements 62 and 63 being the same as between elements 63 and 64.

In other words, since the lug 68 is always set upon the starting of the machine in t 1e position in which it will trip open the middleswitch element 63 upon its return, the tone arm will always be stopped at that pointif the record to be played is the same size as the first record (the one for which the switch R is set). If the record to be played is a larger record than that first record, then the tone arm returns until switch element- 62'is opened, but if the record to be played is smaller than the first ecord then the tone arm is stopped ,when the first switch element 64 is opened. When the machine is stopped by moving lever 32 inward, the motorcircuit will be completed at contacts 32 through sliding contacts 17 and 18. only and the spring motor will be wound to its original tension. At this time the needle will not be lifted since the magnet 52 will not be energized. It will be understood that while the various records are being played and the spring rewound, the rewinding is not quite complete to its original tension since the contacts 17 and 18 do not quite separate, but when the machine is stopped the rewinding will be complete.

record of either diameter on the table andputting records of either or both sizes into magazinev 85, the throwing of the starting lever 32 to starting position will start the operation and the records will be successively played and delivered to receiving magazine 87 until the machine is stopped either manually by the starting lever 32 or automatically by the magazine switches as above described. It will be understood, of course that 'the machine niay play iindividual records in the usual way, the button B being l .It will thus be seen that by placing a to have the center of the record slightly thickened and covered with a softer material such as the usual label 011 the record. The pressure outhe records in the magazine-1s very light, however, and nothing of this kind manually placed upon the table and the mamay be necessary.

While I have described my. embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto as various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my inventionthe scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

'What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United (States,

1. The combination with a phonograph orthe like for playing disc records of a magazine adjacent thereto for records of" 1 different diameters, means whereby'when the end of a record of any size is reached it is automatically caused to slide off the 7 table and a new record from the magazine of either the "same or a different diameter 1s caused to slide into its place and means for returning the tone arm to the starting position of the records.

'2. The combinationwith a phonograph or the like for playing disc records of difl'erentldiameters, means located above the table for centering the records thereon,

means whereby when the end of a record of any size is reached the cente'ring meansengages the center of a new record in the magazine and moves it to playing position and means whereby-the tone arm is automatically returned to the starting positionof the record to be played.

3. The'combination with 21 phonograph or the like for playing disc records of different diameters, of a magazine adjacent thereto for records of different diameters, a

centering device projecting downward into 'the record to centerthe same, means whereby when the end of a record of any diameter 1s reached the record is shifted off the table and the 'centering' device moved to engage the center hole of a record in the magazine and shift the record to the table and means for returning the tone arm to the starting position of the new record.

4. The combination with a phonograph v or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine adjacentthereto for'records of different diameters, means whereby when-- the end. of. a' record of, any diameter is reached it is causedto [slide off; the table invention as chine started, the record will be auto matically shifted off the table when it is completed, a new record of either the same or a different size shifted to replace it and the tone arm returned to the starting position of the replacing record.

I 6. The combination with a phonograph or the like, of a magazine for records of different sizes and means whereby when a record of one size is manually placed upon the table and the phonograph started,

records of either the same, or a different size will be automatically and successively shifted to the table and the tone arm restarted on each successive record.

7. The combination with a spring actuated phonograph or the like, of a magazine for records of different diameters, means whereby when a' record of any diameter is placed upon it and thephonograph started, records of either the same or of different size will be automatically and successively shifted to the table, means for returning the tone arm to the starting position on each 100 successive record and means for the spring.

' 8. The combination with a phonograph or the like for playing disc records, of a magazine for-records of different diameters adjacent the phonograph, means whereby when the end of a record of any diameter is reached, the played record is shifted off the table and a new record from the magazine is caused'to slide into its place, a lever-operated by theedge. of arecord in its sliding movement, means for returning the tone arm rewindinge and means controlled by the position of said lever for stopping the return movement at the starting position of the new record.

. -9. The combination with a phonograph or the like, of means-for automatically feeding records of difierent sizes to playing pos1- tion, means for returning the tone, arm, a plurality of devices for'stopping the return deviceffor stopping the tone-aim, in. the

starting position of the next record played is automatically selected.

10'. The combination with'a phoh'o g raph or the like, of means for automatically feed-' .movement of-the tone-arm at diifernflposi 'tions and means ,v fliereby;after the machine 1 is istartediwith "one. record; {the proper limit I yice for stopping the return movement of the tone arm at the position from which it start-- -.cally selecting the proper-device to 'suit the record to be played. v

11. The combination with a phonograph having a turn table and tone arm for playing records manually placed in playing position, of means whereby a record so placed on the turn table is automatically replaced b a similar recordof either the same or a di erent'size upon the completion of such record,

having a turn table arranged toreceive and rotate records manually placed thereon, and

a tone-arm having only the usual needle engagement with the record, of means for automaticallyreplacing a record upon the turn table by another record of either the same or a different size and means for returning the tone arm to the starting position of the replacing record. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of August, 1920.

FRANK J. SEABOLT. 

